Elaine Thomson

13 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what attention is being paid to diversity by the Scottish Social Services Council when it considers which qualifications will be recognised for people working in the social services workforce, given that diversity is one of the key principles underpinning the Regulation of Care (Scotland…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In developing the proposed qualification framework, the Scottish Social Services Council has taken account of the diverse nature of social services in Scotland. Extensive consultation has been undertaken with a wide range of bodies to ensure that the framewor…

20 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring access to NHS dentistry services.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Whilst acknowledging that there are problems of access to NHS dentistry in some parts of Scotland, the Executive has in place a number of measures aimed at increasing the numbers of dentists providing NHS treatment. These include:<UL><LI>the availability of g…

13 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has provided to Satrosphere, the science centre in Aberdeen, in 2002.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive has recently awarded Satrosphere a grant of £200,000 to help secure its long-term position as a centre contributing to the public understanding of science.

6 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle delayed discharge.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our Delayed Discharge Action Plan, which was launched on 5 March 2002, set out a range of short- and long-term measures for reducing the number of people experiencing a delay in their discharge from hospital. This year, we have backed our action plan with a £…

3 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the 2005 electronic service delivery target.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have today published the Executive's 3rd <I>Electronic Service Delivery Progress Report</I>. Over all 69% of services provided by the Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are now available online to some degree. This represents a 2% i…

11 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in extending lifelong learning to all age groups, with particular regard to the over-60s.

Answer · Iain Gray: The total number of students in all age bands, including the over 60s, in tertiary education in Scotland, has increased each year since 1994.<P>We are working with Scotland's older people to ensure they have the information they need to access learning opport…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made to learning disability services as a result of the learning disability services change fund.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Learning Disabilities Change Fund is being used to provide or improve a variety of services. These include remodelling day activities, including employment and life-long learning; developing short break services; the appointment and training of local area…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding for learning disability services has been provided by the NHS and local authorities in each year from 1996-97 to date.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The information on local authority funding is provided in the annual <I>CIPFA Rating Review Actual of Income &amp; Expenditure</I>. The Bib. numbers are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=141><TR><TD WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1996-97…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor Partnership in Practice agreements and what the frequency and nature of such monitoring will be.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Following the assessment referred to in the answer given to question S1W-27845 today, implementation of the plans set out in Partnership in Practice agreements will be monitored through Scottish Health Advisory Service inspections, the NHS Performance Assessm…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an assessment of Partnership in Practice agreements in each local authority and what the outcome of each assessment has been.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Scottish Executive officials have assessed all Partnership in Practice agreements (PiPs) submitted by local authorities, and all authorities have had feedback on the content of their PiPs. Officials are now evaluating the revised PiPs.

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received Partnership in Practice agreements on learning disability provision from each local authority and whether it will list any which are still to be submitted.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Partnership in Practice agreements have been received from all local authorities.

19 Jul 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to the fish processing industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme will continue to assist the processing sector. <P>I have also asked the industry to consider how we might build on the achievements of the Fish Processing Action Plan and I …

8 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to initiate any discussions with local authorities about promoting the adoption of grounds and paths which are currently maintained by private owners where there are difficulties in ensuring adequate maintenance.

Answer · Margaret Curran: There are no such plans at present and the Housing Improvement Task Force is currently considering all aspects of common and shared maintenance with a view to making property owners aware of their obligations and ensuring that effective arrangements for neces…

8 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing legislation to facilitate the maintenance of common paths and ground which local authorities have not adopted.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced on 6 June, will facilitate the maintenance of facilities such as amenity ground and paths within private housing estates where these have not been adopted by local authorities. Section 28 of the bill …

8 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Housing Improvement Taskforce is considering the issues associated with the maintenance and upkeep of paths, roads and associated ground held in common with private owners, such as that associated with the Heatheryfold West owners in homes formerly owned by Scottish Homes.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The task force is considering all aspects of common and shared maintenance obligations for homeowners, with the primary concern of ensuring that home buyers are properly informed of their obligations when they purchase and that effective common management arr…

8 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimate has been made of the number of homeowners who have responsibility for common footpaths and ground associated with their properties.

Answer · Margaret Curran: No information on the number of homeowners in Scotland with the responsibilities described is held centrally. We are not aware of an estimate of that number having been made.

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what interoperability standards it has set out for the public sector.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have today published the revised <I>Information Age Government Framework</I>. The framework covers a number of areas including technical and data standards, access, authentication, data protection and data sharing, electronic record management and skills. …

21 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the Report of the Legal Advice and Information Provision in Scotland Working Group.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am announcing today the Executive's initial response to the Report of the Legal Advice and Information Provision in Scotland Working Group. I very much value the work carried out by the working group and broadly agree with the key issues and their proposals…

1 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to close any widening of the gap in attainment levels between pupils from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000 puts a duty on all local authorities, including Aberdeen City, to publish an Annual Statement of Improvement Objectives showing how they will meet the National Priorities in education, and help to close the achieve…

10 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve pupil attainment in secondary schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The National Priorities for Education have established a framework to raise standards of achievement. <P>Each local authority must prepare an education improvement plan. Schools - in their school development plans - will set targets for improvement in attainm…

21 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken, with regard to its website, to use infobot technology to speed up responses to the electorate on general issues.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive Website does not use infobot technology. However, our policy for the website is to make it easy for the public to access and use. As well as its current search facilities, for example the website provides a facility for visitors to subs…

15 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to monitor the number of members of fishing crews who lose their employment due to the decommissioning of fishing vessels with a view to monitoring whether or not they remain in the industry or find employment elsewhere.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to unemployed people seeking employment. The responsibility for assisting unemployed people into work rests primarily with the Employment Service, with local enterprise companies also providing training and s…

20 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of ambulance staff.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The service has been investing in more frontline staff and there are today some 200 more paramedics and technicians on emergency ambulances than there were 10 years ago. We are providing the Scottish Ambulance Service with additional funding which will enable…

9 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken in order to develop the youth justice system, with particular regard to repeat offenders.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Action Programme 2002 to reduce Youth Crime will be published at the end of this month. Its aim is to help reduce youth offending and to build safer communities. It includes proposals for improving the effectiveness of the Youth Justice system, for giving…

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support tourism in the north east, in light of the decision by a tour operator to cease flights from Aberdeen airport.

Answer · Mike Watson: The Scottish Executive will continue to encourage the development of air services to and from Scotland for the benefit of the travelling public and the Scottish Economy. This is a matter that we discuss regularly with the Enterprise Networks, VisitScotland an…

21 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards achieving its objectives in tackling drug misuse.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer to my response to Hugh Henry's question S1W-20252 on 23 November, about the publication of our first Annual Report, which sets out the progress being made by the Executive in implementing the national drugs strategy. Examples of progress include the e…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a progress report on the 2005 electronic service delivery targets.

Answer · Angus MacKay: We have today published our first progress report on electronic service delivery which shows that the Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies already provide over 60% of their services online. Unsurprisingly, most of these relate to the pro…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address any skills shortage in the oil and gas industry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is aware of current skills shortages in the oil and gas industry through involvement with the government/industry PILOT Task Force. <I>Future Skills Scotland</I> has a key role in matching skills supply to employer demand and the unit h…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to close any gap in attainment levels between pupils from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Raising attainment for all pupils and closing the gap between the poorest and best performers are central to the National Priorities for education. I will shortly be issuing guidance to education authorities which sets out a clear, evidence-based improvement …

30 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in preparing Scotland for the "new economy".

Answer · Wendy Alexander: As noted by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee report following its inquiry into the New Economy, the Scottish Executive has already taken significant steps to address issues connected to the new economy in Scotland. Today I am issuing the Executi…